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jrtomhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/03/AR2007090300933.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Some of the more interesting bits:
* Denying an assertion makes it more likely that people will later remember that assertion as true.
* _Failing_ to deny an assertion _also_ has that effect.
* People are lousy at remembering where they learned something, and in particular the reliability of a source.
Apparently the most effective way to counter a falsehood with a truth is to assert the truth without referencing the falsehood. Which seems like cheating, especially (I would suppose) to those with scientific backgrounds.
*sigh*
Some of the more interesting bits:
* Denying an assertion makes it more likely that people will later remember that assertion as true.
* _Failing_ to deny an assertion _also_ has that effect.
* People are lousy at remembering where they learned something, and in particular the reliability of a source.
Apparently the most effective way to counter a falsehood with a truth is to assert the truth without referencing the falsehood. Which seems like cheating, especially (I would suppose) to those with scientific backgrounds.
*sigh*
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(no subject)
Date: 5 September 2007 19:22 (UTC)I think our brains just have a little bit of trouble with the concept of negation. It is very hard to not do something. It is much easier to do something else. It makes sense to me that it is hard to remember that something is not true, and easier to remember that something else is true.